"Cough... Cough..."
No one knew how long it had been when the sound of coughing broke the silence. The man's chest, now fully healed, began to rise and fall intensely, drawing both Dean Bruce's and Nicholas William's attention.
Slowly opening his eyes, the man spoke his first words, "Is... is this hell? How unfortunate. So young, and I haven't even taken over the inheritance left by my father. Yet I've died..."
"..."
Nicholas William's voice was laced with sarcasm, "Don't worry. You can always leave the inheritance to us. I wouldn't mind bearing such a heavy burden."
"Huh?"
Blinking his eyes, the man finally realized he wasn't alone. He jerked upright suddenly, but his injuries, though outwardly healed, were not entirely mended internally. The sudden movement sent a sharp pain through his body, making him gasp and let out a cry of agony.
It was then that the man fully grasped that he was still alive!
After all, the dead can't feel pain!
He took a careful look around and then bowed slightly to Dean Bruce, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you for saving me. May I ask, where is this place?"
"Pur-cloud Imperial Capital," Dean Bruce responded calmly.
Hearing this, the man let out a long sigh of relief.
Nicholas William couldn't help but interject with a pout, "How are you so sure it was my teacher who saved you and not me?"
"..."
The man's lips twitched slightly, but he chose not to respond to Nicholas William. Instead, he turned his attention to his own body, examining himself thoroughly.
Not finding any trace of injury, his eyes shone with newfound light. He knelt down and gave Dean Bruce a deep, respectful bow before speaking in a serious tone, "My injuries were extremely severe before, yet you've managed to heal me completely. You must be a master beyond compare!"
"Please, would you be willing to help me with something? If you do, I will give you anything you desire as thanks—whatever you want!"
"I, Apollon Joy, swear by the honor of the Pur-cloud Imperial Capital's royal family. I will never deceive you!"
"Hm?"
When he finished speaking, Nicholas William's face immediately showed a look of astonishment. Dean Bruce, too, was somewhat surprised. He had suspected that this man's status was not low and that he would play an important role in future developments, but he hadn't expected him to be a member of the Pur-cloud Imperial Capital's royal family!
Moreover, he was one of the two elder brothers that he and Miranda Joy had previously discussed!
Narrowing his eyes, Dean Bruce asked softly, "Miranda Joy is your sister?"
"Indeed." Apollon Joy's face revealed his surprise, followed quickly by immense joy. "You know my little sister? That's wonderful!"
Sensing Apollon Joy's genuine happiness, Dean Bruce's brow furrowed as confusion clouded his thoughts.
"I never expected the Gold family to choose betrayal. Once I rally my troops, I will tear every last member of the Gold family to pieces!"
"As for their estate, they were granted special permission by my father to reside in the courtyard to the left of the palace, where there is also a guard post manned by the royal guards, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to infiltrate."
Hearing this, Dean Bruce couldn't help but be surprised. In any era or on any continent, being granted residence near the highest ruler's palace was a testament to one's favor and status.
What, then, could have caused Terrynas Gold to betray them? Even to the point of ambushing the two royal princes midway?
On the other hand, Nicholas William was nearly dozing off. Although he had grown up in the Lord's mansion, he had always focused on training with Shelly William and then relied on Dean Bruce's support. With no real sense of crisis in his life, he found these matters uninteresting.
"If... if you plan to go investigate the Gold family, I can guide you. But I still hope that you will help me escape the capital! If you agree to assist me, I am willing to swear on the name of the royal family that I will bestow great rewards upon you!"
Having heard enough empty promises, Dean Bruce remained unmoved. He replied calmly, "There's no need for that. Let's make a deal instead: you take me to the Gold family estate, and I'll ensure you get out of the capital. We'll deal with the rest after you've successfully rallied your forces."
"Agreed!"
Although this cooperation seemed rather abrupt, Apollon Joy could not turn down a chance to escape the capital.
Just as he attempted to get up, a wave of pain washed over him, making him wince. He sighed, "How long will it take for these injuries to fully heal?"
Dean Bruce had no intention of using more of his magical energy to heal him. He simply ignored the question, closed his eyes, and began resting to recover his strength.
Realizing this, Apollon Joy could only smile bitterly before continuing, "I can tell that you are not a native of the Empire of Lane Cloud. So why did you come here, right after these strange events began?"
"If you don't dare to ask, then don't. Otherwise, I can't guarantee you'll live long enough to find out."
Dean Bruce's voice was calm, yet it made Apollon Joy shut his mouth immediately, too frightened to speak any further.
For a moment, the entire room fell into silence.
Nicholas William yawned and said, "Teacher, if there's nothing else, may I go to sleep now?"
Nodding slightly, Dean Bruce glanced at Nicholas William and noticed that he fell asleep in an exceptionally short amount of time. He instantly realized that something was wrong—someone had done something to Nicholas William!
Normally, people only fall asleep that quickly if they are utterly exhausted to the point of collapse!
Clearly, the food Nicholas William ate at the banquet was indeed tampered with; otherwise, why would Dean Bruce not feel the slightest bit tired?
"This guy... How can he fall asleep so quickly?" Apollon Joy was also startled and muttered, "What an enviable ability!"
Seeing that Dean Bruce remained unresponsive, Apollon Joy hesitated before finally deciding to curl up against the corner wall and close his eyes, preparing to get some rest himself.
If he continued talking, he feared Dean Bruce might just snap and finish him off on the spot!
In no time, the room returned to a state of utter stillness.
Dean Bruce's eyes were closed too, but he wasn't sleeping. His mind was on high alert, his mental strength focused entirely on keeping a close watch over Nicholas William.
Who knew how much time had passed, but as the night wore on, Nicholas William, who had been deeply asleep, suddenly and soundlessly stood up—without any warning or sign of movement leading up to it.